yes.. you could use a hyd cylinder.. I have a friend who was using his portapower to drive a cylinder which raised / lowered his bottom wheel.. he did have a "pressure" gauge as well (if I remember correctly) however the question as to WHY arizes.. an threaded shaft is alot easier. I use my wheel for shaping.. as well as planishing.. it depends on the project material and my at***ude.. often the "hammer" gets it done quicker.
In addition to Ron Covell, check out Kerry Pinkerton's stuff: www.wheelingmachines.com for high quality parts and complete machines. www.metalcrafttools.com is another good place to buy. Paul, I have an english wheel with a rectangular frame for stiffness and the most efficient use of material I could come up with. You are welcome to come by and try it out. I am about 3 hours away from you on the coast. Lessons available as well. John www.ghiaspecialties.com
Hey, I beleve that the Tinman (Kent White) sells, or use to sell lower anvils in semi finished form for cheaper than finished ones. With these and the steel from a local source, I'd think a guy could put together a better wheel for much less than the toy wheels are commanding. Of any of the bench top wheels that I've ever used, the best part was that I didn't own them! Just ok for thin sheet and aluminum, but worthless as mule *** in real steel, and forget about wheelin through any welds. S****ey Devils C.C.
The Hard Chrome shafts I used in the lower adjusters were actually off cuts from making hydraulic cylinders.Machining details in my english wheel album on www.allshops.org To use a hydraulic cylinder as a lower adjuster,you need a spring return cylinder,an easy way to generate controlable pressure,and some way to stop the lower yoke from rotating.If you have to pay for the hydraulics, I would not bother.
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